Diane Richardson enters her fifth year in the 2021-22 season of leading the Towson University women's basketball program after being named the 10th head coach of the Tigers in 2017.
A unique 2020-21 slate ended with a 13-9 record for the Tigers and an 8-6 mark in the CAA (Colonial Athletic Association). Towson went on a six-game mid-season win streak defeating Hofstra, College of Charleston, James Madison and Northeastern in the process. Richardson guided three student-athletes to postseason conference honors. Kionna Jeter became the first Tiger to earn three consecutive All-CAA first team selections. Aleah Nelson was named to the All-CAA second team after her first season in the black and gold. Allie Kubek was also selected for the All-CAA Rookie team.
Under Richardson, Kionna Jeter became the first player in program history to be chosen in the WNBA Draft. Jeter was selected with the 12th pick in the third round, 36th overall in the 2021 draft by the Las Vegas Aces. Jeter was the CAA Preseason Player of the Year. She recorded 1,582 points to rank third overall on the Towson University women's basketball all-time scoring list. Finished the season averaging 23.0 points per game to rank 10th in the country and first in conference. Jeter was also the first CAA player to score +30 points in three straight contests since Delaware's Elena Delle Donne did it in the 2012-13 season as well as the first player to do it at Towson since joining the conference in 2001-02.
The 2019-20 season brought an unprecedented ending as the Tigers were set to begin playing in the year's CAA Championship tournament, before heading home due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Towson finished the year as the No. 4 seed with a 9-9 record in conference action. Kionna Jeter and Nukiya Mayo capped the season returning to All-CAA teams; Mayo is the second player in program history to receive All-CAA honors three straight years. Richardson coached the Tigers to a 14-15 overall record and saw a win over then-first place James Madison in January.
In her second season, Richardson led Towson to its first program Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Championship and the program's first berth to the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers saw an eight-game turnaround and entered the conference tournament tied for third place, and won three games to bring the trophy home. Richardson was named the CAA and ECAC Coach of the Year and she saw three players receive five All-CAA honors.
Among several accomplishments, the 2018-19 season saw Towson finish with the most wins in 10 years and the first winning season since the 2011-12 year. Richardson guided her Tigers through a season with wins over three Atlantic 10 teams, a six-game winning streak for the first time since the 2007-08 season and three CAA sweeps during conference play.
In her first season at Towson, Richardson saw Mary Cuevas and Nukiya Mayo receive All-CAA honors as Cuevas earned Second Team plaudits while Mayo was named to the Third Team. Cuevas was also named to the CAA All-Defensive Team.
Richardson was most recently an assistant coach and the recruiting coordinator at West Virginia University during the 2016-17 season. There she helped with player development, scouting, game strategies and preparation. In her role as the recruiting coordinator, she implemented and supervised recruiting strategies which led the Mountaineers’ 2017 recruiting class being ranked No. 17 by ESPNW. Richardson helped West Virginia win its first Big 12 Conference Championship this past season as the Mountaineers defeated Oklahoma, Texas and No. 2 Baylor to claim the title. West Virginia advanced to the NCAA Tournament where the Mountaineers defeated Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Champion Elon before falling to Maryland. Richardson played a key role in the development of Tynice Martin, Lanay Montgomery and Teana Muldrow, all of whom earned All-Big 12 Conference accolades.
Prior to her time in Morgantown, Richardson spent four years as an assistant coach at George Washington University. There she was responsible for player development, scouting, recruiting, player relations and community relations and on the floor game strategies. Richardson helped the Colonials improve their win total from 11 wins to a school record 29 wins after just two seasons. George Washington captured a pair of Atlantic 10 regular season and conference tournament championships. Richardson and the Colonials made a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances in 2015 and 2016 and an appearance in the WNIT Tournament in 2014. Richardson also played a key role in the development of Jonquel Jones, one of the most decorated players in George Washington history and current WNBA star. She also coached four all conference players, four all-tournament players and the A-10 Tournament MVP in back-to-back years.
Richardson had two successful stints as the head coach at Riverdale Baptist High School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. She served as the head coach from 2001-06 and again from 2009-12 and during that time was responsible for all aspects of building and maintaining the nationally ranked program. Riverdale Baptist won five National Championships during Richardson’s tenure and was ranked among the USA Today Top 10 in five of her eight years. She posted a 234-32 record and coached many talented players including Towson alum Dominique Johnson, who went on to become a 1,000 point scorer for the Tigers. Richardson was named the 2005 National High School Coach of the Year and also earned district and regional coach of the year accolades from the WBCA. She also organized an academic enrichment program which raised the team overall GPA to 3.6.
In between her stints at Riverdale Baptist, Richardson spent time as an assistant coach at the University of Maryland and American University.
At Maryland she helped the Terrapins post a 33-4 record and earn the number one seed for the NCAA Tournament. Richardson played a key role in the development of Crystal Langhorne, Marissa Coleman and Kristi Tolliver, all of whom became WNBA All-Stars.
At American Richardson served as the team liaison with academic services, compliance and marketing. She presented an in-depth plan and process for facilities use for a building occupied by four other sports, university events and academic services. Richardson helped establish the first team camp and worked with marketing, media relations and development to set the attendance record for a single women’s game.
Richardson earned her master’s degree in management from Central Michigan in 1984. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from Frostburg State. Richardson was the NCAA regional field goal percentage leader as a freshman in 1976. She also ran track at Frostburg and was the 1979 NCAA regional champion in the 200 and 400 meter races. She earned a spot on the 1980 US Olympic team, which did not compete in the games.
Richardson also has an extensive business background. She was the founder and C.O.O. for the American Security Companies. Richardson also served as the Vice President of the National Neighborhood Lending Marketing Team for Bank of America. She also served as the President and C.E.O. of RCI Financial for several years.
What people are saying about Diane Richardson:
“Towson University has made an outstanding hire in Diane Richardson as their head coach of women’s basketball. Diane was a huge part of the success of George Washington women’s basketball with the values and beliefs she instilled. As the “Queen of the DMV,” Coach Rich knows the players, coaches and parents that strive to be the leaders on the court, in the classroom and in their communities. Diane’s experiences as a head coach at Riverdale Baptist translated to championships at GW and West Virginia by bringing out the best in players and coaches she worked with on a daily basis. Towson hired a great coach, a tremendous mentor and a leader that will bring unsurpassed energy to the entire University.” - Jonathan Tsipis, former George Washington head coach and current head coach at the University of Wisconsin
“I’d like to thank Diane for her contributions to our program over the past year. She has left our program in a better place because of her tremendous work ethic. We wish her the best of luck at Towson University." – Mike Carey, West Virginia head coach
"I've had the wonderful privilege of working with Diane Richardson on various WBCA committees and her passion for our game and for impacting lives is very high. Diane is an outstanding coach and there is no question she will do wonderful things with the Towson program." - Coquese Washington Past President of WBCA and head coach, Penn State
"I'm sure Diane is thrilled to be coming back home. I'm happy for her and her biggest supporter, her husband Larry. Towson is getting someone with tremendous local connections that should help them for years to come. It's an exciting challenge to move into that head coach's chair at the college level and I know Diane will put her best into it." – Brenda Frese, Maryland head coach
“Coach Rich is a mother, a teacher, a coach and someone you just have the utmost respect for. Growing up in the DMV area and when you are a young girl and hear Coach Rich is in the building you want to be on your best behavior and play your best game (especially playing against her). When she became my head coach, she took me in as if I was one of her own. She made things possible for me. I remember always going to practice and having 15 Division I coaches lined up to see us practice because they knew what type of product she was putting out on the court. Her becoming the head coach at my alma mater will be an amazing thing to witness. She’ll take what she has and groom them as elite players into women of our community. This will be the missing piece in a beautiful puzzle.” – Dominique Johnson, Towson women’s basketball alum who played for Coach Richardson at Riverdale Baptist
